Adjustable carrier for containers

Abstract

An adjustable carrier for multiple stacked containers, the carrier including a lower collar positionable peripherally about and lockably engagable with the lowermost container, an upper collar engagable about the uppermost container in cover retaining relationship therewith, and multiple straps engaged between the collars. Each strap is snap-locked to the lower collar and projects vertically into an adjustable ratchet and pawl engagement with the upper collar. The upper collar incorporates an integral handle which receives any excess length of the straps therein.

I claim: 
     
       1. A carrier for containers, said carrier comprising a lower collar, an upper collar, and flexible, elongated strap means therebetween having closely spaced ratchet teeth formed along the length thereof, said strap means having upper and lower ends, strap retaining means on said lower collar for receiving and retaining the lower end of said strap means, strap retaining means on said upper collar having means for engaging and locking to the ratchet teeth of said strap means, and lock means on said lower collar for releasably locking said lower collar to a container receivable therein. 
     
     
       2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said upper collar includes a generally vertical peripheral wall with an upper wall projecting inwardly therefrom peripherally thereabout, said walls defining an inner surface engagable with and about the upper portion of a container received therein. 
     
     
       3. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said lower collar includes inner and outer peripheral sides and upper and lower edges, the inner side of said lower collar including an inwardly directed lip peripherally thereabout adjacent the lower edge thereof for supportive engagement with a received container. 
     
     
       4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein said lock means comprises lug means projecting inwardly from said inner side of the lower collar above the inwardly directed lip, and recess means defined immediately below said lug means and between said lug means and said lip for a snap-locking of a peripheral portion of a received container therein. 
     
     
       5. The carrier of claim 4 wherein said lug means comprises a plurality of individual lugs spaced peripherally about said lower collar. 
     
     
       6. The carrier of claim 5 including a tab integral with said lower collar and projecting outward from the outer side thereof for selective manual engagement for release of the lower collar from a received container. 
     
     
       7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the strap retaining means on the lower collar comprises diametrically opposed outwardly projecting ears, each defining a vertical aperture therethrough, said strap means comprising a pair of vertically elongated straps, each upwardly receivable through one of the ear apertures, each strap including an enlarged head on the lower end thereof, said head being larger than the associated ear aperture and incapable of passage upward therethrough. 
     
     
       8. A carrier for containers, said carrier comprising: a lower collar including inner and outer peripheral sides and upper and lower edges, the inner side of said lower collar including an inwardly directed lip peripherally thereabout adjacent the lower edge thereof for supportive engagement with a received container;   an upper collar including a generally vertical peripheral wall with an upper wall projecting inwardly therefrom, peripherally thereabout, said walls defining an inner surface engageable with and about the upper portion of a container received therein;   a pair of vertically elongated straps between said lower collar and said upper collar, each strap having upper and lower ends, and an enlarged head on the lower end;   strap retaining means on said lower collar for receiving and retaining the lower end of the straps comprising diametrically opposed outwardly projecting ears, each defining a vertical aperture therethrough, said straps being each upwardly receivable through one of the ear apertures, said head being larger than the associated ear aperture and incapable of passage upward therethrough;   strap retaining means on said upper collar for engaging and locking to said strap means;   lock means on said lower collar for releasably locking said lower collar to a container receivable therein comprising a plurality of individual lugs spaced peripherally about said lower collar and projecting inwardly from said inner side of the lower collar above the inwardly directed lip, and recess means defined immediately below said lug and between said lug means and said lip for a snap-locking of a peripheral portion of a received container therein;   a tab integral with said lower collar and projecting outward from the outer side thereof for selective manual engagement for release of the lower collar from a received container.   
     
     
       9. The carrier of claim 8 wherein each of said straps includes ratchet teeth defined along the length thereof, the strap retaining means on the upper collar comprising means defining a vertical passage for each strap, and a pawl on the upper collar directed inwardly relative to each passage for engagement with selected ratchet teeth of the strap received therethrough. 
     
     
       10. The carrier of claim 9 including a handle spanning the upper collar between said strap accommodating passages, said handle including an outwardly directed recess along the length thereof for selective reception of the upper portions of the straps therein. 
     
     
       11. The carrier of claim 10 wherein the handle recess is defined by laterally spaced generally vertical flanges, said flanges extending transversely across the upper collar to each side of each of the strap retaining means on the upper collar. 
     
     
       12. The carrier of claim 8 including integral projections on each of said straps in spaced relation above the enlarged head for engagement with the upper surface of the corresponding ear for cooperation with the enlarged head in releasably fixing the strap end to the ear. 
     
     
       13. A carrier for containers, said carrier comprising: a lower collar;   an upper collar having a generally vertical peripheral wall with an upper wall projecting inwardly therefrom peripherally thereabout said walls defining an inner surface engageable with and about the upper portion of a container received therein;   strap means between said lower collar and said upper collar comprising a pair of vertically elongated straps each having an upper end and a lower end with an enlarged head on said lower end;   strap retaining means on said lower collar for receiving and retaining the lower end of each of said straps comprising diametrically opposed outwardly projecting ears, each of said ears defining a vertical aperture therethrough, each of said straps being upwardly receivable through one of the ear apertures with said head being larger than the associated ear aperture and incapable of passage upward therethrough; and   strap retaining means on said upper collar for engaging and locking to said strap means.   
     
     
       14. The carrier of claim 13 wherein each of said straps includes ratchet teeth defined along the length thereof, the strap retaining means on the upper collar comprising means defining a vertical passage for each strap, and a pawl on the upper collar directed inwardly relative to each passage for engagement with selected ratchet teeth of the strap received therethrough. 
     
     
       15. The carrier of claim 14 including a handle spanning the upper collar between said strap accommodating passages, said handle including an outwardly directed recess along the length thereof for selective reception of the upper portions of the straps therein.